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Hispanic-American Medal of Honor Recipients VILLEGAS, YSMAEL R. Rank and organization: Staff
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company F, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division.
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Hispanic-American Medal of Honor Recipients VILLEGAS, YSMAEL R. Rank and organization: Staff
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company F, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division.
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Citation: He was a squad leader
when his unit, in a forward position, clashed with an enemy strongly entrenched in
connected caves and foxholes on commanding ground. He moved boldly from man to man,
in the face of bursting grenades and demolition charges, through heavy machinegun
and rifle fire, to bolster the spirit of his comrades. Inspired by his gallantry,
his men pressed forward to the crest of the hill. Numerous enemy riflemen, refusing
to flee, continued firing from their foxholes. S/Sgt. Villegas, with complete disregard
for his own safety and the bullets which kicked up the dirt at his feet, charged an
enemy position, and, firing at point-blank range killed the Japanese in a foxhole.
He rushed a second foxhole while bullets missed him by inches, and killed 1 more of
the enemy. In rapid succession he charged a third, a fourth, a fifth foxhole, each
time destroying the enemy within. The fire against him increased in intensity, but
he pressed onward to attack a sixth position. As he neared his goal, he was hit and
killed by enemy fire. Through his heroism and indomitable fighting spirit, S/Sgt.
Villegas, at the cost of his life, inspired his men to a determined attack in which
they swept the enemy from the field.